Celebration of New Forest Business at 2016 Expo at Brockenhurst College

Following last year’s success, the second New Forest Business Expo looks forward to welcoming hundreds of local business people on Friday 3 June between 10am – 4pm at Brockenhurst College.

The 2016 Expo will once again celebrate the diverse range of businesses from all industry sectors doing business in the New Forest. It’s the only exhibition of its kind in the Forest and it offers both exhibitors and visitors a unique and time efficient means to network and make new contacts. It’s free for visitors, and exhibitor stands are priced to encourage even the smallest sole traders to take advantage of the day’s showcasing opportunity. Up to 100 exhibitors are expected, including many of last year’s exhibitors - positive testament to their enjoyment of the day together with the benefits to their businesses.

The exhibition layout at Brock will be easier to navigate than was possible at Berthon last year: the stand layout deploying the sports hall with covered stands on the adjacent sports courts, will be open and accessible to all.

The convenient and central New Forest location of Brockenhurst College and its long heritage combined with the vast range of apprenticeships and vocational courses which Brock offers today’s students alongside the traditional excellent academic options, will also offer many local people a trip down Memory Lane! As it’s half term, most of the students will be absent but Student Ambassadors will be on hand to give visitors a guided tour of the facilities which will surprise and impress many who have not previously had this opportunity, and are perhaps not aware of how much the College has developed.

The College offers great exhibition facilities including ample free parking, reasonably priced all day refreshments, and convenient transport links from all directions.As well as the Exhibition itself there are lots of other attractions are on offer – including rope climbing wall and bite size cookery demos courtesy of Brockenhurst College. In addition, there is a full day’s programme of short sessions by expert speakers on business related topics of relevance to everybody (morning sessions will be repeated in the afternoon), as well as the College Tours.

Organised by the New Forest Business Partnership together with a small team of independent local businesses including Bartley Marketing, Escape Yachting and Quay Marketing Consultancy, the Expo is being run as last year on a not for profit basis. The team’s commitment is to support local business by facilitating the meeting of new local contacts and thus encouraging everybody to buy more goods and services locally, which in turn will help the continued growth of the New Forest as a brilliant place to do business.

‘Eric the Owl was delighted to be part of such a successful first year for the Expo. Lots of businesses, plenty of visitors and a great many hugs!’ Eric Robinson Solicitors after last year’s Expo!

Full details and a list of exhibitors who have already signed up can be seen at newforestbusinessexpo.com. Everybody interested in either attending or exhibiting at the 2016 New Forest Business Expo should register at http://newforestbusinessexpo.com/